Birmingham to use smart tech to combat isolation among over-65s

Birmingham City Council will test out wearable devices to help the elderly. The EU City4Age_project is based on a collaboration between academic and public and private sector partners from Madrid, Athens, Montpellier, Singapore, Lecce (Italy) and Birmingham.

Birmingham will be the testbed for capturing data on individuals’ behaviour through wearable technologies and smartphones. Devices will be deployed among frail elderly people or those with mild cognitive impairments to help detect behavioural changes, monitor location and safety in the home and community, and reduce loneliness.

While the details are being finalised, one proposal is to deploy street-based beacons around the city to push messages to participants’ smartphones about discounts and local events. By tracking participants’ mobility patterns, the project team will understand where they go, and deploy measures to combat isolation, such as introducing a ‘buddy’ system.

The technology could also be programmed to trigger alerts if wearers have not left their home for several days, which may indicate a risk of isolation, or a healthcare issue, such as a fall.

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